The Number 1 Pick Goes To...
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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~
~~~(Date: May 18th, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: Watching TV, Holden, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Time: 5:50 PM)~~~
"The 4th Pick in the 2026 NBA Draft goes to... The Portland Trailblazers!"
As the card unfolds, it makes the beginning of the top 3 picks. And The Knicks, Lakers, and Pacers are all still in the game for the number one pick. The screen goes to commercial and everyone in the room starts talking.
I'm in the mood to have a bit of fun, so I pull my phone out of my pocket, and I decide to throw a tweet out into Twitter.
[Man, talk about a tense cutoff. Next is the top 3, and I'm excited to see where this is going to end.]
The moment I send out my tweet, it's already getting likes and retweets. It's not a deep or profound tweet by any means. It's just something that I thought might be fun. As I see some of the replies, Portland Trailblazer fans are cursing at the odds and the NBA.
They feel screwed. I see a tweet from Stephen A. about the Knicks and how hope is still alive. The Lakers like my tweet and retweet it. But a dynasty like the Lakers doesn't have to say anything.
As I lift my eyes from my phone, the NBA Draft Lottery is back, and they're about to announce the 3rd pick. The final 3 teams are the only ones still up there, and all of them look a little sick.
"The 3rd pick in the 2026 NBA Draft goes to... The Indiana Pacers!"
Wow... So it's down to The Lakers and The Knicks now. Both don't have great teams, and going to either will give me the scene that I need. A challenging rookie year. I have every intention of being the youngest NBA champion and Finals MVP ever.
And doing so on either of these teams.
"It's the final two picks..."
Ellie is on the edge of her seat like everyone else. And they're about to announce the number two pick in the NBA Draft.
My rookie years will be spent in either New York City or Las Angeles. And the announcer is about to speak and flip the card.
"The 2nd Pick in the 2026 NBA Draft goes to... The Las Angeles Lakers!"
Then it's been decided.
I'm going to The New York Knicks.
"And that means the 1st pick in the 2026 NBA Draft goes to The New York Knicks!"
He flips the card and shows who's getting the 1st pick in the upcoming draft in June. The program immediately goes to commercial, and everyone starts talking and celebrating. It's a good day. I open my phone and see tweets @ me celebrating my future in New York.
New York Fans all over media and New York are celebrating.
"Looks like we'll be living in the big apple during the duration of my rookie contract."
Hannah can't contain how happy she is, and she leaps into me with hugs and kisses. Mainly cause we have an idea of where I'm going now.
~~~(POV: Stephen A. Smith)~~~
~~~(Date: May 18th, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: Media Table, 2026 NBA Lottery Draft)~~~
~~~(Time: 6:02 PM)~~~
"It's an amazing day for Knicks fans all over the world, Kendrick! We've got the greatest player coming out of high school since Lebron or Kobe! It's been 41 years since we had a Hall of fame caliber player in the Draft!"
This is one of the greatest moments of my professional life in the media.
~~~(POV: Hannah Fiona)~~~
~~~(Date: May 18th, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: Watching TV, Holden, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Time: 6:07 PM)~~~
The TV is showing reactions from all over Twitter and reactions from the media in attendance during the NBA Lottery Draft. It shows Stephen A. getting up from his seat with tears in his eyes and celebrating with fellow Knicks fans in attendance.
In a little over a month from now, The NBA Draft will be coming along and The Knicks will be taking Ulysses.
It's so crazy to think that I'll be living in New York soon. And going to their University. It's all so surreal.
My eyes fall on Ulysses, and what I see amazes me.
A burning desire for competition, challenge, and genuine happiness. Most wouldn't want to be drafted to The Knicks. But Ulysses sees this as the perfect chance to prove just how great of a player he really is.
The perfect stage to become the greatest basketball player ever.